Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2007)
AFL-CIO will campaign for ‘Medicare for All’ to replace current insurance-run system LAS VEGAS (PAI) — Armed with universal denunciation of the broken health care system, the national AFL- CIO Executive Council voted unani- mously last month to campaign for a massive change: Expanding Medicare to the entire country. Union leaders ranging from those representing public employees to in- dustrial unions and construction work- ers with multi-employer health care plans jointly run by unions and man- agement, blasted the present setup. The vote puts the AFL-CIO on record with a specific universal health care plan that would involve payments from individuals, government and busi- ness — with government running it to cut administrative costs and bargain prices, just as it now runs Medicare. It also marks a notable break from the past, as unions helped construct the present system, but watched it become increasingly and overly expensive for workers and companies — even while 47 million people are uninsured and millions more are underinsured. Companies are dropping health care coverage for workers and retirees, and health care is the No. 1 battle in bar- gaining. “The time for talking about this cri- sis is past,” the AFL-CIO said. “All families deserve the security of a uni- versal health care system that guaran- tees access based on need rather than income. Health care is a fundamental human right and an important measure of social justice.” The Executive Council statement laid down principles of universal cov- erage, that “government, as the voice of all of us, must play the central role in regulating, financing and providing health care,” that coverage “should be accessible through the largest possible groups to ensure coverage” for all, and that everyone — including employers — must share responsibility for health care financing. It then said that “one concrete plan that meets the test of comprehensive, universal health coverage would build on our nation’s successful universal health coverage plan for seniors: Medicare.” ‘All families deserve the security of a universal health care system that guarantees access based on need rather than income. Health care is a fundamental human right and an important measure of social justice.’ “We tried to look for fundamental principles for cost-efficient, high-qual- ity universal coverage, taking the load off employers, while we can create the largest pool” of clients “and have gov- ernment play the lead role,” said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steel- workers Union and chair of the federa- tion’s Legislation Committee. After lauding Medicare, which has the federal government provide univer- sal coverage paid for through payroll taxes, and with seniors having a choice of doctors, the AFL-CIO adds expand- ing it to all “would require updating and expanding Medicare benefits to fit the working population and children, as well as negotiating prices with physicians and providers that families and the country can afford.” In passing the resolution, the AFL- CIO rejected the Bush Administra- tion’s scheme to tax workers who get what Bush calls “gold-plated” health insurance. Bush would tax those plans, pushing many companies to dump them. “Until comprehensive national re- form is enacted, we will continue to defend health benefits workers have fought and sacrificed to establish over the last 50 years,” the AFL-CIO said. While the union leaders did not en- dorse any specific bill to change the na- tion’s health care system, AFL-CIO health care policy specialist Gerald Shea said several fit its proposal. They include the single-payer gov- ernment-run health care system bill (HR 676) by Rep. John Conyers (D- Mich.) and Medicare-for-all bills crafted by Senate Labor Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.), House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) and House Health Subcommittee Chair- man Pete Stark (D-Calif.). “Conyers would put single-payer in place, while the others would build on Medicare,” Shea said. Those other bills would extend Medicare to the whole country, but still leave a role for private insurers, said Walter and Kay Tillow, who handle communications for the Louisville-based Nurses Professional Organization/All-Unions Committee for Single-Payer Health Care. That group has convinced at least L EGAL P ROBLEMS ?? For $16 a month coverage includes: ❖ Unlimited toll-free phone consultation with attorneys. ❖ A comprehensive will with yearly updates is included. ❖ Representation for traffic tickets, accidents, criminal, and civil suits. ❖ Coverage on IRS tax audits. ❖ Divorce, child custody, bank- ruptcy and many more benefits.* four international unions, including the Steelworkers, the Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Plumbers and Pipefitters United Association, to back HR 676. Some 220 other unions- groups back Conyers’ bill. The Tillows said they welcome the national AFL-CIO statement as “a big advance” over the present system, but criticized leaving a role for the private insurers. Shea said the key to the federation’s getting support for extending Medicare to all is to recruit some employers. Em- ployers in the aerospace, telecommuni- cations, steel and paper industries have talked to their unions about backing the Medicare-for-all plan, but nothing has been put in writing. THESE LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE VERY BEST LAW FIRMS IN OREGON & WASHINGTON. * Some services not 100% covered For more information, call 503-760-2456 or toll-free at (888) 252-7930 www.prepaidlegal.com/info/randallnix R e a l Es t at e EXECUTIVES “A SK A BOUT Y OUR U NION D ISCOUNT ” TR Melton, Broker Direct: 503-641-4555 Mobile: 503-997-8969 Fax: 503-641-9002 Email: trmelton@re-execs.com Assistant: 503-548-7343 PROTECTING UNION MEMBERS’ SMILES AND WALLETS. Orthodontics Available Quality, Affordable Family Dental Care Q • General, cosmetic, and specialty care • Most insurance and union plans accepted • Easy credit and low monthly payments, O.A.C. • Evening and Saturday appointments • Ask about our Dental Discount Program Quest Investment Management, Inc. • Serving Multi-Employer Multi-Employer Serving Trusts for for Over Twenty Years Trusts Twenty Years Grants Pass 1021 NE 6th St. Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-479-6696 } Cam Johnson Cam Johnson Adrian Hamilton Adrian Hamilton Doug Goebel Doug Goebel Garth Nisbet “I CAN GO TO ONE PLACE TO FIX IT ALL?” Greg Sherwood Greg Sherwood Monte Johnson Monte Johnson Bill Zenk Bill Zenk Pat Worley Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Gresham 443 NW Burnside Road Gresham, OR 97030 503-492-8487 Salem 831 Lancaster Mall Dr. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-362-8359 Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Wilsonville 25700 SW Argyle Ave. Wilsonville, OR 97070 503-682-8552 Salmon Creek 2101 NE 129th St. Vancouver, WA 98686 360-574-4574 Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Milwaukie 17186 SE McLoughlin Blvd. Milwaukie, OR 97267 503-659-2525 Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Chau Ngo, D.D.S., M.S. Phong Bui, D.M.D. Charles Stirewalt, D.D.S. Stirewalt, P.C. Fisher’s Landing 3250 SE 164th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98683 360-891-1999 Peter Vu, D.M.D. Chau Ngo, D.D.S. Charles Stirewalt, D.D.S. Stirewalt, P.C. 1-888-BRIGHT NOW www.brightnow.com www.QuestInvestment.com www.QuestInvestment.com APRIL 6, 2007 Northwest Dental Associates, P.C. Klamath Falls 4052 S. 6th St. Klamath Falls, OR 97603 541-883-7706 One SW SW Columbia Columbia St., St., Suite Suite 1100, Portland, OR OR 97258 97258 One 1100 Portland, 503-221-0158 503-221-0158 Portland 3580 SE 82nd Ave. Portland, OR 97266 503-777-0761 Serving unions for over 25 years NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 5
